Chainsaw Man's Makima made a name for herself as one of the animanga community's most terrifying antagonists. As a master manipulator with a complete lack of conscience, she became an enemy to fans in a very short amount of time. Due to her heinous behavior and affinity for atrocities, it was clear that Makima's end would not be a particularly nice one.
As the manga's first part concluded, so did Makima's rule of evil. Denji, the character most targeted by her terrifying tactics, was the one to end her life, bringing about a slightly confusing ending. As the nefarious Control Devil, Makima is essentially immortal — but Denji manages to take her life, anyway.
Updated on August 5, 2023, by Ajay Aravind: Chainsaw Man has taken the anime world by storm, but the manga narrative is light years ahead of Season 1. Anime-only fans still don't know Makima's true nature as the Control Devil, nor do they know her ultimate fate. As such, we've updated this feature with some more information regarding Makima's death.
What Does Makima's Contract With the Prime Minister Entail?
With a reputation that makes her a walking target and an infamous public role, Makima made a contract with the Japanese Prime Minister to protect herself. This contract allows the Public Safety leader to distribute her suffering among the Japanese public. In particular, any attack made upon Makima would be changed into appropriate illnesses and accidents, and placed upon Japanese citizens. As such, she was essentially invincible.
This means that assaults on Makima's person resulted in an equally morbid consequence for random citizens, while she walked away unscathed time and time again. This is why Makima was able to survive being shot in the head during the Katana Man arc, as well as the many other fatal attacks she's recovered from. Makima's death was particularly confusing because of this contract, as she should have been able to dedicate the attacks to a stranger. So, how did Denji kill Makima?
Denji Outwitted Makima in Their Final Battle
Denji faced an almost insurmountable challenge in getting close enough to confront Makima directly, necessitating a clever approach to outwit his formidable enemy. Among Makima's abilities as the Control Devil was an exceptional sense of smell, and Denji deduced from past knowledge and his own observations that she identified individuals based on their scents. Tragically, he realized that the scent associated with him wasn't his own but that of Pochita, a poignant revelation he decided to turn to his advantage.
Makima's fixation on Chainsaw Man, and her desire to wield the devil's power to reshape the world by vanquishing the War, Famine, and Death Devils, explained her affinity for Denji. After a fierce battle between Chainsaw Man and Makima, Denji felt immense pressure never to assume his hybrid form again, fearing it would lead to his demise at the hands of the Control Devil. However, Denji, the valiant devil hunter, was determined to continue his heroic existence, driving him to conceive a plan to launch a strategic assault on Makima.
Denji broke off a part of Pochita and created a fake Chainsaw Devil to fight Makima and her lackeys at the graveyard. She succeeded in defeating this devil, tore out its heart, and finally took possession of Pochita. Thinking that she had won the fight, she let her guard down, creating an opening for Denji to strike her with a chainsaw created using Power’s blood. Since Makima was always focused on Pochita, she never knew Denji's scent, so she failed to notice him and his ruse. Once he got her, Denji proceeded to cut her up into pieces with his mentor, Captain Kishibe. However, this was no different from the many other attacks she had survived, so how did Makima die?
Denji Found a Loophole in Makima's Contract
It is important to note that, as stated in Chapter 84, Makima's contract with the Japanese Prime Minister clearly outlines that only attacks are passed on to the country's citizens. The reason for Denji's success is due to a loophole regarding these particular terms of the contract. Essentially, any self-inflicted or accidental injuries, or acts not intended as an attack, could not be passed on to the Japanese public.
Denji's plan's initial phase undoubtedly involved an aggressive offensive. While he and Kishibe relentlessly dismembered Makima, it is crucial to acknowledge that this action had widespread ramifications for countless Japanese citizens. Ordinarily, Makima's devil abilities and contract would enable her to regenerate faster than Denji and Kishibe could inflict damage. However, the chainsaw made from Power's blood, which Denji employed to sever the Control Devil, caused chaos within her. Without the intervention of the blood, Denji's plan would have faltered, and Makima would have quickly risen again.
After successfully dismantling Makima, Denji consumed her flesh, effectively erasing her presence from the world. Despite enduring all the suffering Makima had subjected him to, Denji still harbored deep affection for her. He willingly shouldered the weight of her sins, consuming her flesh to become one with her. Consequently, this act transcended violence; it symbolized an expression of love, rendering it more than a mere attack. By doing so, Denji ensured that the terms of her contract were not fulfilled, preventing Makima from ever returning after being consumed by her devoted subordinate. In an intricate and unconventional manner, Denji realized his ultimate aspiration of being united with Makima.
Why Wasn’t the Control Devil Erased?
Since Denji is a hybrid who merged with Pochita, many fans were confused when the Control Devil reincarnated. The Chainsaw Devil can erase devils from existence by consuming them, so many assumed that the devil would be struck from history after Denji ate Makima. However, this was not the case.
While Denji does have the Chainsaw Devil's powers, he and Pochita exist separately within his body. Denji in his human form was the one who consumed Makima, not Chainsaw Man, so he only ended up killing her and not erasing her existence completely. This is the reason why the Control Devil still exists and was reincarnated in the world as Nayuta. The reborn devil now lives with Denji in hopes that he can raise her in a loving environment and save her from her own destructive tendencies.
The nature of Makima's death was a confusing ordeal, as she was the most powerful character roaming the CSM universe. She was deemed unkillable, but with a surprising sense of wit and unshakable resolve, Denji outsmarted Makima and brought about the end of her reign as the Control Devil.
The Chainsaw Man manga is available in English from MangaMonster. Season 1 of the Chainsaw Man anime is available to watch on Crunchyroll and Hulu with a subscription. There is no official release date for Season 2, but fans speculate it could arrive in 2024.
